Machine for crushing cans



2 Sheets-Sheet ,8 fz y 0 2 8 1m .ZZ M. W. P 4 3 3 3 w 2 v Uf 4 f. fw fi@A w W 9. j M F/ Y 7 U- \u I wlw/aia. 2 W A he oo v f oO 4 3 .A Y ,A a. 4y ,H y 0 N l 68 nu@ d w s Mm wf HD 3 Oct. 31, 1939. H. APPRlLL MACHINEFOR CRUSHING cANs Filed Julyy 21, 1957 Patented Oct. 31, 1939 irl-:nvSars ,gaat kreis 3 Claims.

My invention relates to treatment of cans by which after their contentshave been removed they may be rendered incapable of being relled.

vThe better grades of lubricating oils for use in automobiles areusually sold in sealed cans usually of I quart size and it is importantto the manufacturer that a can from lwhich the contents have beenremoved may not be refilled as if refilled is likely to be reilled withinferior grades.-

It is the 'object of my invention to provide a device by which a can'from which the contents have been removed shall be so crushed as to beincapable of further use as a can and shall be so reduced in bulk that aconsiderable number of crushed cansl may be stored in a bin or otherreceptacle.

With the above object and other objects hereinafter referred to in viewmy invention consists in and comprises the construction and combinationof elements hereinafterv described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a machine embodying my invention. i Figure 2is a side viewA of the machine shown in Figure 1, looking to the left.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 5 isa fragmentary central sectional view.

Figure 6 is a detail s-ectional view of yielding means for disengaging acrushed can from the crushed head.

Figure 7 is a front view, and

Figure 8 is a side view partly in section of an end cutter.

In the drawings l, I, indicate vertical standards supported by .base 2.3 indicates an inclined drain board extending outward from the upperends of standard l, l, and having drain opening il. 5 indicates astorage chute extending upward from the upper ends of standards I, l,adapted to receive cans and to guide them into position betweenoppositely arranged end cutters 6, 7, each having a series of radialknives, which are carried respectivelyv on the upper inwardly extendingarms 9, lil, of slides il, i2. These slides are mounted to be movable ina guide member i3 carried by arms 38, `39, extending upward fromstandard I, having slot J4 through which extend pins l5, i6, carriedrespectively by slides Il and l2. These pins extend into slots il at theupper ends of levers I8, I9, which are pivoted respectively at 20, 2l,on standards l, l, and have their lower ends pivoted to links 22, 23.These links are carried by head 2Q of vertically movable rod 25 which isguided by guide 26 on the standards l, l, and guide 2l on base 2. To rod25 between 5 guides 25 and 2l is pivoted the end of foot lever 28pivoted at 29 to standards l, l, and having at its free endpfoot rest281. By depressing the free end of lever 28g the lower ends of lever i8,i9, are drawn towardsv each other causing their upl0.. per ends to moveinward and, through pins l5, l, on slides I l, l2, causing the cutterheads E; l', to move inward. yOnlever 28 onthe portion extending frompivot 29 towards its free end is pivoted the lower end of rod 3G, theupper end of 15 which is threaded into the lower end of turnbuckle 3l.Screwthreaded into the upper end of turn-buckle is'rod 32 the upper endof which carries fork 33. The ends 3ft 35 of the arms of this fork arepivoted to arms 36, 31, which are 20 each pivoted at its inner end toone of the upwardly extending arms 38, 39, carried by standard l, l, andat their free ends are pivoted to Crusher head 40. Parallel with each ofarms 35, 3l, is an arm il pivoted at one end t0 one of the upwardlyextending arms 38, 39 and at the other end to Crusher head lid. Byreason of these parallel arms the crusher head is ensured verticalmovement. The Crusher head is lreturned to elevated position after beingdepressed by foot 30 lever 28, by spring l2 which is secured at one endto the foot lever and at the other end is secured 'to lug i3 on standardl, l.

As a can nears the lower end of chute 5 it is stopped by an arm of starwheel 45. This star 35 wheel is carried by horizontal shaft i6 on whichis carried ratchet wheel lll. the teeth of which are engaged by pawl i8which is pivoted in upwardly extending arm 3d. Pawl i8 is provided withan arm i9 below the plane of shaft d6 which 40 extends forward into thepath of a cam 50 carried by cutter carrying arm 9.

On the Crusher head d@ are mounted springs 52 having at their free endspins 53 extending through openings so as to be forced upward intothepositionl in which it is shown in Figure 6 as the Crusher head is forceddownward to eiiect the crushing and as the Crusher head rises thesprings will press the can indicated at 56 away from the Crusher head.`50

55 indicates a hook on the underside of drainboard 3 on which to' hang abucket to receive the oil as it drains through opening 4. v

In Aoperation cans being in place in chute 5 the lowermost one will restagainst arms of the 55 star wheel 45. By depressing foot lever 28 arms 9and I0 will be moved inward to cause cam 5! to act on arms 49 of `pawl48 to release the lowermost cam and permit it to drop into line with thecutter heads 6 and 1, being held in position by the arms of the starwheels 45 which by the release of pawl 4S are allowed to rotate onespace.

As the cutter heads are allowed to move outward pawl 48 again engages atooth of ratchet 46 to cause an arm` of star Wheel 45 to hold the can inposition` between and in line with the cutter heads. Lever 28 is thendepressed and forces the cutter heads against the ends of the can. Theradial knives of the cutter heads split the ends of the cans intotongues which are by the conical shape of the cutter heads caused t0 lieagainst the inside of the can wall and thus the resistance of these canheads to crushing of the can is done away With.

As the Crusher heads move outward and the star wheel releases the can itslides forward into position beneath the Crusher head 4U. As the footlever 28 is again depressed the Crusher head is brought down on the canto flatten it out. It may then be removed by hand to the storage bin orotherwise disposed of.

Having thus `described Amy invention, what I claim is:

1. In a machine for crushing cans including a frame having oppositelyarranged cutter heads, means for moving the cutter heads toward eachother to pierce the heads of the cans, flattening means for forcing thewalls of the cans together to hatten the same, means for conveying thecans from the cutter 'heads to the flattening means, means forpositioning the cans successively in line with the cutter heads and thesaid attening means.

2. In a machine for crushing cans comprising a supporting frame,conveyor means for supporting and guiding the cans through the saidmachine, oppositely arranged Cutter heads arranged along the conveyormeans for cutting the heads of the cans, means for collapsing the wallsof the cans after they have been operated upon by said cutter heads,means for positioning the cans successively in line with and between.the cutter heads and means for subsequently positioning the cans beneaththe said collapsing means.

3. In a machine for crushing cans including a fram-e having oppositelyarranged cutter heads, said cutter heads having conical faces carryingradial knives thereon, means for moving said cutter heads toward eachother to cause them to pierce the heads of the cans and cut the said canheads into radial strips and to force the strips against the walls ofthe cans, means for Hattening the walls of the cans, conveyor means forconveying the cans through the said machine, means for successivelypositioning the cans in line with the cutter heads and flattening meansand means for operating said cutter heads and flattening means.

HARRY APPRILL.

